The Murray Region Forestry Hub recently hosted its managers, representatives from relevant government agencies and industry groups at a conference.
A number of items were listed for discussion as well as a packed field trip including the Visy Pulp and Paper Mill, Hyne Timber, Fire impacted plantation regrowth sites and a trip to Ardrossan to see first hand some of the fire infrastructure investment.
The Hub’s Resource Working Group and Steering Committee recently approved a project that was a comprehensive and diligent review of the differences between Environmental Plantings and Timber Plantations as land use change choices.
The MURR-2024-026 Land Use Review and Comparison looked at the relative contribution of potential environmental plantings and harvestable timber plantations to regional economies in NSW and north east Victoria including returns; carbon and investment and their respective socio-economic contributions to the regional areas of the Central West and Murray Region Hubs.
The Infrastructure Working Group has also reviewed and approved the MURR-2024-024 Future infrastructure Needs and Optimisation Assessment which reiterates the findings of Australia’s Timber Fibre Strategy that efficient infrastructure is key for the movement of primary and finished goods and the longevity and profitability of timber processing in regional Australia.
The report also found that these efficiencies including moving to Higher Productivity Vehicles (HPVs) which will deliver a nett emissions saving.
It also highlights that the various timber and processing industry and local government areas of the Murray Region are heavily reliant on road infrastructure for the movement of primary and finished goods.
On average, more than 5.5 million tonnes of timber industry goods are transported within, into and out of the Murray Region Forestry Hub (MRFH) estate.
Although various state plans exist that support the need for more efficient freight movement, the on-ground consultation and implementation of such plans appears to be stagnant.
It also demonstrates that the industry is not generally consulted due to the lack of appreciation of the transport needs, volume and contribution to regional economies.
The report revealed that approximately 70 percent of the haulage task is conducted on roads within the plantation estate, yet many challenges regarding haulage efficiencies sit outside this road network.
It highlights and identifies the key infrastructure improvements required to generate better road use outcomes, community safety, and industry efficiencies.
The report specifically calls out the challenges in and around Tumbarumba. In addition to the long distances required for fibre transport, the region suffers additional complexities related to topography, landscape, and consistent tourism traffic.
The Murray Region Forestry Hub encompasses the towns of Tumut, Tumbarumba, Corryong, Wodonga, Mansfield and Bright.
This article appeared in Corryong Courier, 30 October 2025.
